“If it’s aimed at teenagers, yes. Fortunately, this is the only one in this outlet mall.” Part of the reason she’d chosen this one.
The girls bounced between clothing racks and jewelry displays.
“I now have a favorite outlet mall. Tell me the others so I can avoid them.” He laughed.
“You’ll want to avoid Ridgeline. I think that one was designed by teenagers. It’stheplace to hang out.”
“Noted.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “So.”
“So?” She quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Tell me about you. I know what’s in your file and what I’ve observed. Tell me who the real Samantha Williams is.”
Her stomach sank. There wasn’t a real Samantha Williams. She was a lie, created to protect everything Madison Johanson loved.
The girls bounced up, saving Sam.
“Find anything?” she asked.
“Not really.” Bella shrugged.
They moved on to a sporting-goods store. One that carried athletic clothing and shoes. Sam managed to avoid any more personal conversations with Liam.
They moved on to a discount department store. The one Sam expected to spend the most time in. Bella and Sophia were loading their arms with things to try on.
“Sam.” Liam tapped her on the shoulder.
Dread knotted in her stomach. He was going to dig again. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for the conversation. Could she politely decline to answer?
“I saw something in the men’s section I want to check out.” He tilted his head. “Would you mind if I went to have a look?”
Relief flooded through her. “No, go ahead.”
“I’ll be right back.” He walked off, taking long strides.
She caught herself staring. It was hard to ignore the way his slacks fit.
“Sam.” Bella’s voice pulled Sam’s attention back to where it needed to be. She turned. Bella was in a pair of stonewashed jeans, paired with a light-purple sweater that hung off the shoulder. “What do you think?”
Where had the little girl in pigtails gone? The girl standing in front of her was more woman than child now. Sam’s heart clenched. “You look beautiful.”
Bella smiled and disappeared back into the dressing room.
Sam turned to look at a clearance rack conveniently placed by the dressing rooms.
A teenage boy dressed in black pants and a black hoodie stood off to the side, the hood pulled up, hiding his face in the shadows. She’d seen him in every store they’d been in so far.
She picked up a shirt and studied it, masking pulling her phone from her pocket, then slid the shirt back on the rack andpicked up another one. She opened the camera app on her phone and slowly made her way around the rack until she was at an angle she could see the kid’s face.
She lifted her phone up and pretended to be texting, but snapped a photo of him instead.
She quickly sent it to Liam.
Sam
I think we’re being followed.
She saw the moment he read the text. She waited for the three dots to appear, but they didn’t.
